Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-23
THE RACE FOR RICHES.

THE RACE FOR RICHES.
Intelligent heathens criticise with par
donable severity that highly Christian
characteristic, the mad rush after things
material which dominates ell other con-
siderations under the high pressure of
western civilization. The slow going
denizan of the Orient who comes 10 our
shores stands aghast at the spectacle pre-
sented CT a nation given up wholly and
entirely to the accumulation Of weslth.
Wealth, or the desire for wealth, seems
to be the handspring and inspiration OF
all effort and the goal of ell ambition.
The good preachers tell US CT the vanitles
of life and the poverty and bsrrenness of
riches but will carry the gospel with haste
to where the largest salary is offered;
philosophers from Solomon down tell US
to pay no homage to the golden calf, bua
that youthful auriferous bovine still has
worshipers, and gruff old Johnson, after
writing:
'sAll that's worth wish, thought,
Fair virtue gives, unb ibed, unbought-
Cease then Oh trash thy hopes TO bind,
Let nebler views engage the mind"
Jumped at a pension, sWesring because
it was not larger, and tried to sell an old
brewery for seven times its value in
order to swell his commissions.
The race for riches was never so univer-
sal as it is to-day. The poison permeates
every sphere in life, every social condi-
ton. The conditions of the country are
such that it is possible for any man to be-
come wealthy, and this possibility is clung
to with tenscity quite astonishing, and
with ar utter disregard of the fact that
the probabilities are against such an
achievement. Everybody desires to &C
cumulate wealth and few ever become
satisfied. Those who "amess q compe-
teRcy and retire" from the active pursuits
of business are few indeed. No matter
how much money man may own or con-
troll, he is still poor as compared to
those above or beside him. The
struggle for enough is struggle for the
Infinite. Americans are not only eager to
make money, but they want to make it
quickly; there must be no dallYiDg. The
old story about the hare and the turtle,
the exioms and maxims about the steady
pace and certain success are all lost on
them. Men have been ruined by specula-
ton, they argue, but men have been en-
riched by it also. Surprising Jay Gould
had been satisfied with snail's pace?
lie would be still conducting tannery.
Surprising Vanderbilt had never specuIa-
ted? He would be less wealthy by sever
al millions. Jim Keene came from the
Pacific coast with seven millions in
money, and himself riding in q special
car. Jay Gould said he would send him
home in box car, and he did
worse; Keene couldn't even hire q
hand car. He remained in, New York,
and is to-day worth nearly as much as he
lost. He did not adopt the slow and sure
pace SO highly recommended; had he
done so he would be clerking for some
one st a small salary. And there was
Henry Willard, newspaper reporter! He
made several millions, lost them, hut
could not be taught moderation by ad-
versity and is now wealthier than ever.
And so on along the entire line. The
bones of persisted fasnciers lie bleach
ing along the way, but the enthusiast in
his race after riches looks only upon
those who have triumphed, and who are
still ahead of him. This desire to be
rich has only one rival, and that
is the desire to appear rich.
There are no more "Aunt Cleggs,"
sailing under false colors during life,
darkly limiting at good investments and
money saved, and sitter death. surprising
everyone by the discovery that more was
saved and invested than was ever limited
at. The policy Of the present day is not
only to acquire thousands, but TO appear
to own millions. It is strictly animal,
almost brutal passion. The rude strug-
giles of the primitive barbarian are hap
PLY eliminated from the contest, and
only such exertions as the softening
influences of q higher life suggest are fe
sorted to, but still this craving for wealth
is base aad beastly; it is the greed of the1
cormorsnt, without the cormorant's via
tue of being sometimes satisfied.
The night 5bel promptly answered at
HTellst drunefsfArR